Headache caused by rhinitis, also known as rhinogenic headache. The main types of headaches are those caused by infection and those caused by non-infection. Headaches caused by nasal disorders occur due to irritation of the pterygopalatine ganglion of the trigeminal nerve and the nasociliary nerve.
The nature of headache caused by nasal diseases such as rhinitis is usually boring and dull pain in the head. Infectious rhinogenic headache is often caused by acute inflammatory infection of the nasal cavity and sinuses. The nature of headache caused by acute sinusitis tends to have a certain location and duration, and is related to the sinus site of inflammation. Headaches due to sinusitis are caused by purulent secretions, bacterial toxins and mucosal swelling in the sinuses, which irritate and compress the nerve endings. Non-infectious rhinogenic headaches are mostly seen in high septal deviation, intranasal tumors, atrophic rhinitis and allergic rhinitis. Rhinogenic headaches are often associated with nasal symptoms. When headache attacks occur, the nasal cavity is often blocked or pus nasal discharge is present; if the nasal cavity is restored after nasal spray with nasal mucosal decongestant, and the headache is relieved.
For patients with headache as the main complaint, the diagnosis of whether the headache is caused by rhinitis is mainly based on the nature, location, time of occurrence and nasal symptoms of the headache as well as the necessary examination.